Measure… evaluate… control odours

Odour emission measurement is crucial to the regulation and control of environmental odours. Before you can define the extent of an odour problem, you need first to identify potential sources of odour emissions and understand their magnitude and characteristics.

Our environmental odour consultants are highly experienced in the measurement of odour emissions across all types of industry and will design odour sampling strategies to reflect your specific requirements.

All odour sampling and analysis is conducted in accordance with the EN 13725, European Standard for Olfactometry or other, published national and international technical and quality standards (such as prEN 264086, VDI 4257 Part 2, ATTMA TS1 and EN 13829).

Sensory odour evaluation meeting the highest standards

Through our accredited odour laboratories specialising in sensory odour analysis, we offer you a wide selection of specialist odour testing services, including – but not limited to:

odour concentration analysis (ouE/m3) according to EN 13725

hedonic tone and odour intensity according to VDI 3882 and NVN 2818

odour type descriptions

odour threshold determination of pure substances and odour mixtures

And, thanks to our mobile odour laboratory, we can deliver global knowledge on environmental odour management in your local area – even in countries where there isn’t an Olfasense office.

Molecular odour evaluation using cutting-edge technologies

Olfasense is in a unique position to have both sensory and molecular odour analysis capabilities in-house. We use molecular analysis, like high-resolution GC-MS and GC-Sniffing, to characterise the chemical composition of air samples, and to determine the concentration of specific airborne pollutants.

Examples of services offered in the field of molecular odour evaluation are:

High-resolution GCMS, to characterize an odour in terms of specific VOCs

GC Sniffing, to identify compound(s) responsible for an odour contamination in an air sample

Gas chromatography coupled with ion-mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), a very fast method to detect various substances within a couple of minutes

Manage your odour impact risk

Assessing the odour impact of an industrial installation is a complex process, and we are happy to advise you on the most suitable solution for your business.

All our measurement techniques address the full range of factors to consider when conducting an odour impact assessment. These factors include the odour intensity, frequency and duration of exposure, offensiveness of the odour, and the odour sensitivity of those living in the affected environment.

This offers means to assess the way in which environmental odours and air pollutants disperse within the atmosphere, making sure your site is as environmentally sound as possible by assessing the odour impact, measuring compliance and optimising odour control strategies.

Odour control system assessment & performance testing

Olfasense has accumulated significant global experience in odour mitigation and odour control. We’ve seen many applications of odour mitigation and control technologies succeed and fail across many industry sectors, so we can confidently assess the options within the context of your particular area of work.

We also have a great deal of experience in the development of effective operational odour management plans. These documents define the measures that are put in place to minimise odour release and odour impact risk on a day-to-day basis, and to manage community communication and odour complaints.

If a site that you manage emits odours, it may affect local residents.

Our environmental odour consultants are highly experienced strategic communicators, and can provide detailed advice on how to optimise communications and manage crisis situations to ensure a successful balance between the interests of the operator and those of the surrounding community.

We also offer a range of web-based solutions that are designed to identify the probable cause of odour complaints and potential spurious allegations or malicious behaviour. The Olfasense Ortelium® tool is a good example of successful odour complaint management.

Your key to managing odour complaints

Ortelium® simplifies odour complaints management by making it a more transparent process.

The Ortelium® application collects, displays and evaluates the relevant data, communicating it in a meaningful map-based display. By making forecasts and giving feedback to all parties involved in cases of reported odour nuisance, it can enhance community relations and defuse conflict situations.

Ortelium also offers features to facilitate and enrich odour measurement procedures, as well as for odour control. To find our more please visit www.ortelium.com.

An odour monitoring programme designed just for you

From continuous monitoring to source analysis, the wide variety of ambient air monitoring methods available means there’s plenty of scope for fine-tuning a solution to meet your needs – so that’s exactly what we do.

We’ll find the ambient odour monitoring techniques and devices that are most appropriate in terms of cost, reliability, level of detail and ease of operation.

In this way, we can create an odour monitoring strategy that will give you the best result.

Odour emission measurement is crucial to the regulation and control of environmental odours. Before you can define the extent of an odour problem, you need first to identify potential sources of odour emissions and understand their magnitude and characteristics.

Our environmental odour consultants are highly experienced in the measurement of odour emissions across all types of industry and will design odour sampling strategies to reflect your specific requirements.

All odour sampling and analysis is conducted in accordance with the EN 13725, European Standard for Olfactometry or other, published national and international technical and quality standards (such as prEN 264086, VDI 4257 Part 2, ATTMA TS1 and EN 13829).

Olfasense is in a unique position to have both sensory and molecular odour analysis capabilities in-house. We use molecular analysis, like high-resolution GC-MS and GC-Sniffing, to characterise the chemical composition of air samples, and to determine the concentration of specific airborne pollutants.

Examples of services offered in the field of molecular odour evaluation are:

High-resolution GCMS, to characterize an odour in terms of specific VOCs

GC Sniffing, to identify compound(s) responsible for an odour contamination in an air sample

Gas chromatography coupled with ion-mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), a very fast method to detect various substances within a couple of minutes

Assessing the odour impact of an industrial installation is a complex process, and we are happy to advise you on the most suitable solution for your business.

All our measurement techniques address the full range of factors to consider when conducting an odour impact assessment. These factors include the odour intensity, frequency and duration of exposure, offensiveness of the odour, and the odour sensitivity of those living in the affected environment.

This offers means to assess the way in which environmental odours and air pollutants disperse within the atmosphere, making sure your site is as environmentally sound as possible by assessing the odour impact, measuring compliance and optimising odour control strategies.

Olfasense has accumulated significant global experience in odour mitigation and odour control. We’ve seen many applications of odour mitigation and control technologies succeed and fail across many industry sectors, so we can confidently assess the options within the context of your particular area of work.

We also have a great deal of experience in the development of effective operational odour management plans. These documents define the measures that are put in place to minimise odour release and odour impact risk on a day-to-day basis, and to manage community communication and odour complaints.

Our environmental odour consultants are highly experienced strategic communicators, and can provide detailed advice on how to optimise communications and manage crisis situations to ensure a successful balance between the interests of the operator and those of the surrounding community.

We also offer a range of web-based solutions that are designed to identify the probable cause of odour complaints and potential spurious allegations or malicious behaviour. The Olfasense Ortelium® tool is a good example of successful odour complaint management.

Ortelium® simplifies odour complaints management by making it a more transparent process.

The Ortelium® application collects, displays and evaluates the relevant data, communicating it in a meaningful map-based display. By making forecasts and giving feedback to all parties involved in cases of reported odour nuisance, it can enhance community relations and defuse conflict situations.

Ortelium also offers features to facilitate and enrich odour measurement procedures, as well as for odour control. To find our more please visit www.ortelium.com.

From continuous monitoring to source analysis, the wide variety of ambient air monitoring methods available means there’s plenty of scope for fine-tuning a solution to meet your needs – so that’s exactly what we do.

We’ll find the ambient odour monitoring techniques and devices that are most appropriate in terms of cost, reliability, level of detail and ease of operation.

In this way, we can create an odour monitoring strategy that will give you the best result.

We have more to offer

We routinely assist our clients with a number of our services to supplement any of our environmental odour studies.

Global odour knowledge in a local context

Olfasense is everywhere! We can deliver cutting-edge odour consultancy and assessment services worldwide, thanks to our mobile odour laboratory and special team of experienced senior field technicians and odour consultants.

Our global projects team has particular experience in the logistical and cultural aspects of worldwide service delivery – so wherever your project is located, we can handle it.

Call in the odour experts

Looking for professional support in legal proceedings related to odour?

Skilled in gathering and preparing evidence, reviewing third-party expert reports, and advising clients and their legal representatives on a wide range of matters, our expert witness will help ensure that legal proceedings go smoothly.

Specialist training in environmental odour management

If you need to be on top form in any aspect of odour assessment and control, you’ll want Olfasense’s specialist expertise at your fingertips.

By investing in one of our bespoke odour training courses, you’ll not only have the opportunity to learn from the experts, but you’ll also get invaluable, tailored advice.

With a range of group and individual odour training packages, we cater for staff in both industrial and regulatory roles.

Olfasense is everywhere! We can deliver cutting-edge odour consultancy and assessment services worldwide, thanks to our mobile odour laboratory and special team of experienced senior field technicians and odour consultants.

Our global projects team has particular experience in the logistical and cultural aspects of worldwide service delivery – so wherever your project is located, we can handle it.

Looking for professional support in legal proceedings related to odour?

Skilled in gathering and preparing evidence, reviewing third-party expert reports, and advising clients and their legal representatives on a wide range of matters, our expert witness will help ensure that legal proceedings go smoothly.

If you need to be on top form in any aspect of odour assessment and control, you’ll want Olfasense’s specialist expertise at your fingertips.

By investing in one of our bespoke odour training courses, you’ll not only have the opportunity to learn from the experts, but you’ll also get invaluable, tailored advice.

With a range of group and individual odour training packages, we cater for staff in both industrial and regulatory roles.

Target Industries

Biofuels and anaerobic digestion plants

Manage the odour impact risk at your AD or biofuels plant

Need some help quantifying, managing or minimising odour generation and the odour impact risk at your anaerobic digestion or biofuels plant? We’ll be happy to talk through your requirements.

Our odour sampling and odour impact assessment capabilities, and our extensive database of feedstock emissions, can be invaluable in the planning of any anaerobic digestion or biofuels development.

We can help you to establish the odour emission potential of the proposed feedstocks (and resultant digestate) early on in the development process, to ensure that suitable odour control measures are included in your design and budget.

Composting

Odours from industrial composting of organic materials

Olfasense has a strong background in odour management for composting plants and draws on an enviable expertise and experience in this area.

We can offer field assessments of odour emissions from diffuse sources in accordance with prEN 264086, bioaerosol sampling studies, and we also provide useful guides on odour management, so you can keep all the relevant information at your fingertips.

Development planning

Odour management in development planning

Olfasense can provide the data that’s needed to assess and manage odours as part of the development planning process. We contribute the necessary quantitative data and odour impact simulations to decide on the necessary odour control investments.

By including odour management issues at the early stages of planning, the economic aspects of air quality can be managed efficiently and cost-effectively and the environmental quality of life of the future residents secured.

Food production

Odour emissions from food production

Olfasense has worked with a large number of clients in the extremely diversified beverage and food production sector, helping them to control odour emissions more effectively, manage odours more robustly and resolve any pre-existing conflict around odour emissions.

Foundries

Foundries are a common source of odour emissions

Odour emissions from foundries can be controlled to some extent through adoption of good practice and use of resins with low phenol content.

Olfasense is ideally placed to offer advice in both these areas.

Where foundries are located close to sensitive receptors such as residential housing, maintaining effective odour control will generally require the use of some form of enclosure and odour treatment system, such as a chemical scrubber.

With such a wide range of potential odour control solutions, we pride ourselves on helping customers select the right one for their needs. Plus, our mobile odour laboratories can carry out speedy analysis on-site when required.

Livestock activities

Odour emissions from livestock production and animal waste management

Olfasense helps operators to assess the impacts of odours from their livestock operations and to develop and implement the best strategies to reduce both odour emissions and their impact.

We can assist you in integrating best practices into the process, and in drafting and implementing an odour management plan.

In case of continued discomfort caused by odours, we will advise you on end-of-pipe technology treatment such as chemical washing, biotrickling filters or biofiltration.

Pet food & animal feed

Odour emissions from pet food processing & animal feed production

Olfasense has extensive experience in assessing the odour impact of pet food / animal feed production plants, and evaluating and selecting the appropriate odour treatment technology on behalf of global market leaders in the field.

Olfasense can help you evaluate the procedures you already have in place and optimise them as necessary.

We can also offer support in applying both odour collection and odour treatment systems to high-risk elements of the process (for example, at a canning plant).

Public sector

Odour studies for the public sector

Olfasense carries out a range of odour studies on behalf of local and national regulatory authorities worldwide, as well as for industry trade bodies and organisations.

These studies include:

independent odour assessments of industrial facilities and operations for regulatory or planning purposes

preparation of odour expert statements to support regulatory enforcement action

Refineries

Odour control is a central issue in any oil refinery

Olfasense has conducted numerous odour studies for refineries in the Middle East and across Europe and has become a trusted partner for some of the biggest players in the refining industry, in a number of ways, such as by:

Rendering of animal by-products

Rendering - one of the most odorous industrial processes

Olfasense recognises the importance of effective odour control and odour removal systems for the rendering sector, and will help you to keep the potential for major social conflict - if odour control systems or strategies fail - as low as possible.

Our odour specialists have worked in this area for many years, developing particular expertise in odour measurement, odour removal assets appraisal, odour impact studies using dispersion modelling, expert witness services, odour management plans, and assessment of best available techniques.

Subcontracting for odour nuisance issues

Valuable support for your engineering project

Olfasense is an ideal partner for environmental consulting engineers, providing high-level input to major civil and industrial engineering projects where odour, air quality, but also other environmental nuisance issues such as noise need consideration.

Our contribution can be anything from a straightforward measurement of odour emissions when commissioning or troubleshooting installations, to a comprehensive contribution of odour chapters to an environmental license application.

Tobacco processing

Odour is an inevitable by-product of tobacco manufacture

Over the years, Olfasense has conducted various odour studies in tobacco processing plants.

Our experience and specialist skills have helped to, identify potential sources of odour emissions, model and assess their likely impact, and to identify the best possible odour mitigation solutions, drawing on a wide range of odour control techniques.

All of these services – and many more – are available to support your tobacco manufacturing activities, whatever your particular odour issue or specific requirements.

Waste

Waste site odour emission control

Thanks to our range of odour measurement techniques, we help authorities, landfills and incinerators in understanding the important elements in the design of waste transfer and disposal operations to keep the amount of odour generated as low as possible.

These include ‘at source’ sample methods (e.g. measurement of the odour emission potential of waste using sample hoods) and field-based methods that enable the overall odour impact potential of landfilling operations to be quantified.

Wastewater

Wastewater and sewage odour control

Olfasense has the knowledge and experience to tackle the environmental and social problems associated with odour from wastewater and sewage treatment plants.

We have carried out odour studies on wastewater treatment applications across the world, on behalf of water authorities, international wastewater service providers and designers.